Page 30 - pollyanna

‘Why, Nancy, Nancy—what is it?’ she cried; then, fear-
fully: ‘This wasn’t—YOUR room, was it?’
‘My room!’ stormed Nancy, hotly, choking back the tears.
‘If you ain’t a little angel straight from Heaven, and if some
folks don’t eat dirt before—Oh, land! there’s her bell!’ After
which amazing speech, Nancy sprang to her feet, dashed
out of the room, and went clattering down the stairs.
Left alone, Pollyanna went back to her ‘picture,’ as she
mentally designated the beautiful view from the window.
After a time she touched the sash tentatively. It seemed as
if no longer could she endure the stifling heat. To her joy
the sash moved under her fingers. The next moment the
window was wide open, and Pollyanna was leaning far out,
drinking in the fresh, sweet air.
She ran then to the other window. That, too, soon flew
up under her eager hands. A big fly swept past her nose, and
buzzed noisily about the room. Then another came, and
another; but Pollyanna paid no heed. Pollyanna had made
a wonderful discovery—against this window a huge tree
flung great branches. To Pollyanna they looked like arms
outstretched, inviting her. Suddenly she laughed aloud.
‘I believe I can do it,’ she chuckled. The next moment
she had climbed nimbly to the window ledge. From there it
was an easy matter to step to the nearest tree-branch. Then,
clinging like a monkey, she swung herself from limb to
limb until the lowest branch was reached. The drop to the
ground was—even for Pollyanna, who was used to climb-
ing trees—a little fearsome. She took it, however, with bated
breath, swinging from her strong little arms, and landing